Safeguarding Our Romani Language / Video Recordings
The 4th International Conference, “Safeguarding Our Romani Language,” organized by the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) on November 6th, 2023, in collaboration with the Council of Europe and the University of Bucharest – The Romani Language and Literature Study Program emphasized the importance of language harmonization, education, and cultural heritage for Roma communities across Europe and beyond.
Initiated in June 2020, the Romani Language Initiative, under the International Cultural Outreach program, gained momentum with the support of the Federal Foreign Office in Germany. This initiative aimed to undertake an “International Romani Language Reform,” building on the Council of Europe’s prior work on the common Romani language. The objectives included the development of teaching materials, support for language re-learning needs, and organizing training for Romani language teachers.
The conference featured a series of panels that provided valuable insights into preserving and developing the Romani language. In Panel 1, keynote addresses by representatives from the Council of Europe and the European Commission highlighted the significance of language preservation. Panel 2, led by experts from the University of Bucharest and Charles University, Prague, delved into the harmonization process and teaching materials, focusing on curriculum development for the Romani language. Panel 3 showcased experts from universities in Hungary, Romania, and Germany, shedding light on strategic cooperation and shared experiences in Romani language education within Europe. The global perspective emerged in Panel 4, where international experts from Brazil and India and global initiatives explored cooperation strategies for the global preservation and promotion of the Romani language. Each panel contributed to a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and collaborative efforts in safeguarding the Romani language.
The discussions explored challenges faced by Roma communities globally and celebrated successes in education, policy, and technology contributing to Romani language revitalization. ERIAC outlined a series of activities, including documentation of dialects, educational initiatives, and cultural exchanges, emphasizing the importance of involving the Roma community at every step.
Closing with an invitation for the European Commission and universities to join the Romani Language Initiative, the conference emphasized global cooperation, education, and policy advocacy for Romani language preservation. Attendees from academia, government bodies, NGOs, and Romani communities committed to ongoing collaboration to develop and preserve the Romani language.
PANEL 1. OPENING INSIGHTS: KEYNOTE ADDRESSES BY:
Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General, Council of Europe
Sabine Verheyen, Chairwoman of the Committee for Culture and Education (CULT); Committee for Development (DEVE) & Special Committee on Foreign Interference in all Democratic Processes in the European Union, including Disinformation (INGE)
Szabolcs Schmidt, Head of Unit, Non-discrimination and Roma coordination (JUST.D.1), European Commission
Timea Junghaus, Executive Director ERIAC, Introduction of the speakers
PANEL 2. HARMONIZATION PROCESS AND TEACHING MATERIALS
Delia Grigore, Head of the Rromani Language and Literature Study Program at the University of Bucharest; President of the Association Rroma Center “Amare Rromentza”; Member of ERIAC Barvalipe Academy
Jan Červenka, Lecturer of Romani Studies at Charles University, Prague
Cristian Pădure, Lecturer at the University of Bucharest for Romani language
Q&A, Moderator: Andrijano Dzeladin, journalist; Coordinator of ERIAC Romani Language Thematic Section
COMING SOON
PANEL 3. STRATEGIC COOPERATION IN EUROPE FOR THE COMMON ROMANI
Szilvia Lakatos, Senior Lecturer of Romani Studies at the University of Pécs, Hungary
Diana Kirilova, Ph.D. in Educational Sciences, Romani language teacher
David Strauß, Teacher of German and Sinti language in Germany
Q&A, Moderator: Gilda-Nancy Horvath, journalist; member of ERIAC Board
COMING SOON
PANEL 4. GLOBAL COOPERATION AND LANGUAGE HARMONIZATION
Elisa Costa, Romani Language Initiative in Brazil
Erik Decker, Teacher of English and Romani language
Zameer Anwar, Indian Council for International Cooperation
Q&A, Moderator: Mihaela Zatreanu, Leading Expert for ERIAC Romani Language Initiative
CLOSING REMARKS AND FUTURE COLLABORATIONS
Anna Mirga-Kruszelnicka, Deputy Director ERIAC
Mihaela Zatreanu, Leading Expert for ERIAC Romani Language Initiative
Interpreters for English and Romani: Diana Sima and Sejhan Jasarov
PANELO 1. PUTARIMASKE INFORMACIE: VAŠNE VAKJARIMATA KATAR
Bjørn Berge, Dujto Generalo Sekretaro, Konsilo le Evropako
Sabine Verheyen, Šerutni katar o Komiteto vaš i Kultura thaj Edukacia (CULT); Komiteto vaš o Barjaripe (DEVE) & Specialo Komiteto vaš Avrutno Khuvipe ande savore Demokratikane procesurja andar i Evropaki Unia thaj vi Došali Informacia (INGE)
Szabolcs Schmidt, Serutno katar o Uniteto, Bi-diskriminacia thaj Romengi Koordinacia (JUST.D.1), Evropaki Komisia
Timea Junghaus, Eksekutivno Direktorka katar o ERIAC, Introdukcia pal e vakjarne
PANELO 2. HARMONIZACIAKO PROCESO THAJ SIKLIMASKE MATERIALURJA
Delia Grigore, Šerutni katar o Programo vaš i Romani Čhib thaj Literatura ki Bukurešti Universitata, Prezidentka katar i Asociacia Romano Centro „Amare Romentza”, membra ande le ERIAC-eski Barvalipe Akademia
Jan Červenka, Lektorko pal Romane Studie ki Charles Universiteta, Praga
Cristian Pădure, Lektoro ki Bukurešti Universitata pal i Romani Čhib
Q&A, Moderatoro: Andrijano Dzeladin, Džurnalisto, koordinatoro katar le ERIAC-eski Tematikani Sekcia pal i Romani Čhib
PANELO 3. STRATEGIKANI KOOPERACIA ANDI EVROPA VAŠ I KHETANI ROMANI
Diana Kirilova, Doktorka pal Edukaciake Džanglimata thaj Sikljarni pal i Romani Čhib ki
Södertörn Universiteta
Szilvia Lakatos, Uči Lektorka pal Romane Studie ki Pécs Universiteta, Ungriko
David Strauß, Sikljarno vaš i Germanikani thaj Sintikani Čhib, Germania
Q&A Moderatorka: Gilda-Nancy Horvath, džurnalistka, membra ando bordo le ERIAC-esko
PANELO 4. GLOBALO KOOPERACIA THAJ ČHIBJAKI HARMONIZACIA
Elisa Costa, Romane Čhibjaki Iniciativa andi Brazilia
Erik Decker, Sikljarno vaš i Anglikani thaj Romani Čhib, USA
Zameer Anwar, Indiako Konsilo vaš Internacionalo Kooperacia
Q&A, Moderatoro: Mihaela Zatreanu, Šerutni Ekspertka vaš le ERIAC-eski Romane Čhibjaki Iniciativa
PHANDAVIMASKE ALAVA THAJ AVUTNIMASKE KOLABORACIE
Anna Mirga-Kruszelnicka, Dujto Direktorka, ERIAC
Mihaela Zatreanu, Šerutni Ekspertka vaš le ERIAC-eski Romane Čhibjaki Iniciativa
Interpreturja andi romani thaj anglikani čhib : Diana Sima thaj Sejhan Jasarov